Dishes that are aesthetically pleasing — and taste as good as they look — are all the rage right now. Here are some sweet and savory options whose “wow” factor will have you pausing to take photos to post on social media before you dig in.

Kokoro Café

This dessert shop is known for its Dole Whip floats and ShakaBooms, which are taiyaki filled with your choice of soft serve and sprinkled with toppings. These shaka-shaped waffle cones have been highly Instagrammable ever since the café opened in 2018.

Due to the pandemic, Kokoro Café hasn’t been able to offer its classic hand-held option for the ShakaBooms. Instead, the desserts are offered via “In a Cup-ShakaBoom” ($7.50), which is easier for customers to hold and enjoy.

The most popular ShakaBoom flavors are classic pineapple Dole Whip and chocolate-vanilla swirl. Highly requested toppings include Fruity Pebbles, rainbow sprinkles and Pocky sticks.

Kokoro Café
Royal Hawaiian Center
2233 Kalakaua Ave., Waikiki
808-388-6552
kokorohawaii.com
Instagram: @kokorocafehi

Purvé Donut Stop

On National Ice Cream Day, Purvé Donut Stop introduced its newest menu item — Unicorn Milk Bombs ($7), a creative take on doughnut gelato sandwiches.

Unicorn Milk Bombs are sold available at Purvé’s Kahala location only. They come in four flavors — Hulk Smash with mint Oreo gelato, The “Jimbo” with condensed milk gelato, Unicorn Butt Sneeze featuring cereal milk gelato, and Aloha Mac with macadamia nut gelato.

All sundaes are made with La Gelateria and are available all day. While all flavors have been well received by dessert fans, Unicorn Butt Sneeze is especially iconic, since it includes the shop’s signature doughnut topped with lemon drizzle and Fruity Pebbles.

Purve Donut Stop
4210 Waialae Ave.,Kahala
808-762-8351
purvehawaii.com
Instagram: @purvedonutstop

Little Vessels Donut Co.

Instagram business Little Vessels Donut Co. is known for its plant-based doughnuts that are handmade in small batches. Sporting a signature square shape, these vegan doughnuts are made with coconut milk.

Popular flavors include maple “bacon,” classic vanilla glazed, strawberry shortcake, Biscoff s’mores and mango Tajin. Flight boxes include six doughnuts — one of each featured flavor for the week — and cost $22. You can also purchase single doughnuts for $4 each.

Preorders for Saturday and Sunday doughnuts are available starting at 10 a.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays, respectively, on the business’s website (little-vessels-co.square.site). Flavors change weekly, so follow Little Vessels Co. on Instagram (@littlevesselsco) for updates.

Little Vessels Donut Co.
3458 Waialae Ave., Kaimuki
little-vessels-co.square.site
Instagram: @littlevesselsco

Jolene’s Market

This business’s claim to fame is its lobster roll with an Asian twist, but don’t overlook the other sandwiches on the menu. Jolene’s Market is home to a variety of cheesy concoctions, including a regular grilled cheese ($8), birria cheese melt with consommé dip ($15) and lobster melt ($18).

All melts feature a house-baked Japanese shokupan toast, as well as three different cheeses (Muenster, cheddar and havarti). For the ultimate cheese pull — even if you don’t eat the sandwich immediately — the staff recommends microwaving it for 20-30 seconds to melt all the cheese. Then, take your photo within the first two minutes after the sandwich comes out of the microwave. Have a friend take your photo so you can use two hands to achieve the ideal cheese pull.

Jolene’s Market
Various Locations
joleneshawaii.com
Instagram:@jolenesmarkethnl